The Writing Prompt Boot Camp

Your Story Competition

Every other month, Writer’s Digest presents a creative challenge for fun and prizes. We’ll provide a short, open-ended prompt. In turn, you’ll submit a short story based on that prompt. The winner will receive publication in an upcoming issue of Writer’s Digest.

From hardboiled detectives to murderers, leprechauns, spies and even giraffe narrators, when it comes to the diverse and unique entries in our free Your Story contest, the gang’s all here. If you have a spare moment this weekend for a writing challenge, take five minutes and give it a whirl. Basically,...

Prompt: Write the opening sentence to a story (25 words or fewer) based on the photo prompt to the left.Official Rules Thanks to everyone for your votes. Here are the results of Your Story #38. The winners in ranking order are as follows: 1. The aging motel lay off the beaten...

Prompt: After being pulled over for speeding, your character finds something important while looking for her registration in the glove compartment. Once again, you’ve made the Your Story competition a success. Thanks to everyone who participated in the competition (either by entering, reading or voting). Out of more than 600 entries,...

Out of more than 600 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Jessica Kruger, as the winner of our Your Story #21 contest. Judging for the Your Story #22 competition will take place in late November. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.

Out of more than 550 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Rebekah Reaves, as the winner of our Your Story #20 contest. Judging for the Your Story #21 competition will take place in late October. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.

Out of more than 900 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Tina Rivera, as the winner of our Your Story #19 contest. Judging for the Your Story #20 competition will take place in late September. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.

Out of more than 500 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Katherine Hollien of Hanover, Mass., as the winner of our Your Story #18 contest. Judging for the Your Story #19 competition will take place in late July. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.

Out of more than 1,100 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Larry Peterson of Fox Island, Wash., as the winner of our Your Story #17 contest. Judging for the Your Story #18 competition will take place in late May. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.

Out of more than 700 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Dayle James Arceneaux of Houma, La., as the winner of our Your Story #16 contest. Judging for the Your Story #17 competition will take place in late January. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.

Out of more than 650 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Carol Jones of Fort Collins, Colo., as the winner of our Your Story #15 contest. Judging for the Your Story #16 competition will take place in late January. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.

Out of more than 1,000 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Mary Rudy of San Rafael, Calif., as the winner of our Your Story #14 contest. Judging for the Your Story #15 competition will take place in late November. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.

Out of more than 400 entries, we chose this entry, submitted by Steve Martinez of Irvine, Calif., as the winner of our Your Story #13 contest. Judging for the Your Story #14 competition will take place in late October. For more info visit writersdigest.com/YourStory.